DURHAM, N.C.- A trio of Duke rising seniors – Kim DeCesare, Gilda Doria and Kaitlyn Kerr -- have been selected tri-captains for the 2013 women’s soccer season, which was announced on Tuesday by Blue Devil head coach Robbie Church. The captains were selected following a vote by the team members.

“We are very happy with the election of our captains,” commented Church. “A number of our players received votes and we have a great deal of players who exhibit leadership within the team. We feel that Gilda, Kim and Kaitlyn can all be great leaders for us both on the field and off the field.”

After moving to the forward position this past season, DeCesare registered a career-high 16 goals, six assists and 38 points. DeCesare, who is out of Massapequa Park, N.Y., was an All-ACC second team selection for her efforts. Her 38 points was the fourth-most in school history, while her 16 goals were tied for second most in the Duke single-season record charts. It marks the second straight year she was selected as a tri-captain.

Kerr, a midfielder out of Bensalem, Pa., tallied eight goals and seven assists in the midfield, while starting 22 of 23 matches on the season. She was a Third Team All-Southeast Region selection and member of the Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament team during the year. Over her career, Kerr has totaled 23 goals, 17 assists and 63 points and was an All-America selection as a sophomore.

A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Doria notched six goals, 11 assists and 23 points as a junior in the midfield. The 5-7 midfielder earned Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament Team, TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week and Soccer America Team of the Week accolades after scoring three goals against Marquette and San Diego during the Duke Nike Classic.

“We think the three captains bring something different to our leadership style and to the leadership of the 2013 team,” said Church. “Our program incorporates the senior class, who are always big leaders for us. Our whole senior class will look to establish their leadership starting now as we leave our spring practice and enter the three month period before reporting to preseason practice. They can show their leadership by returning in the best physical shape that they can be in.”

As a team, Duke advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight with a 15-6-2 overall and 5-3-2 mark in the very challenging ACC in 2012. The Blue Devils will return seven starters in 2013, including its top six scorers from last season. Duke will open practice for the 2013 campaign on Aug. 7.